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Open Source

Open source software is computer software whose source code is available under a license that permits users to study, change, and improve the software, and to redistribute it in modified or unmodified form as defined by the Open Source Initiative (OSI). The OSI was formed in February 1998 by Eric Raymond and Bruce Perens in order to present the 'open source' case to commercial businesses, like Netscape. The OSI hoped that the usage of the label "open source" would eliminate the ambiguity of the word "free" in English, particularly for individuals who perceive "free software" as anti-commercial.